LASIK eye surgery is a highly common laser refractive procedure used to correct vision problems. The surgery is effective for correcting nearsightedness, farsightedness, and astigmatism. LASIK stands for Laser-assisted in situ keratomileusis, which can replace glasses or contact lenses.
Vision for Life is a premier vision correction center in Nashville, TN, specializing in advanced LASIK surgery. Led by the renowned LASIK surgeon, Dr. Jeffrey D. Horn, MD, it provides advanced eye care through cutting-edge technologies like WaveLight EX500 LASIK laser and Contoura Vision in a professional, personal environment, prioritizing comfort and satisfaction.
In this post, we will look closely at how the LASER surgery is performed and how it corrects vision problems.
What Is LASIK Eye Surgery?
Vision problems are an outcome of the incorrect way in which our eyes refract light. During vision, the light rays pass through several eye structures, such as the cornea that covers the front of the eye and, after that, the crystalline lens that gets rays refracted by the cornea. This focuses light into an image on your retina at the back of the eye. But in case of an incorrect bending of light, a precise image cannot be formed. IT, in turn, leads to poor vision.
LASIK is a refractive surgery that reshapes your cornea. A LASIK doctor can provide permanent correction for vision issues. Here are the steps involved in the surgery.
- Access. The LASIK surgeon makes a small flap in your cornea. Often, doctors make flaps that are between 100 to 119 microns thick. They use a laser to make this incision. The LASIK doctor then folds this flap back to reveal deeper tissues.
- Reshape and remove. Now, the surgeon employs computer-guided lasers to change the shape of the cornea. For this purpose, they take small amounts of tissue. This part of the surgery is done with fast laser trackers.
- Replace. Finally, the flap is placed back over the eye’s cornea. It functions as a kind of bandage for recovering tissue.
What Happens During the LASIK Eye Surgery
If you’re searching for a LASIK surgery near you, you may wonder about what to expect from this procedure. Here, we explain what happens during the LASIK surgery.
On surgery day, your eye prescription will be verified. The doctor will measure your pupils so you get the best outcome from the procedure. A surgical counselor will answer any questions you might have about the process or resolve your concerns. The counselor will also give you advice about the post-operative care instructions. If you are a contact lens wearer, you must have been told not to wear them for at least a week before the surgery. This is because they can alter the cornea’s shape.
The entire procedure takes just about half an hour or 30 minutes. You will be in the clinic for about 3–4 hours on the surgery day. Sometimes, the LASIK eye surgery can be less than 15 minutes long. The laser is used for less than 10 seconds on both eyes. The doctor will seat you and give you numbing eye drops. The LASIK surgeon uses an instrument to keep your eyes open. They will place a suction ring over your eye before cutting the corneal flap. At this point, you can feel a kind of pressure or a dimness in your vision.
Once the flap is made, the surgeon folds it back to access the corneal area that requires to be reshaped. The doctor will begin the reshaping process after that. You will be asked to focus on a light point to keep your eye fixed while the laser shapes your cornea. Each laser pulse takes away a part of the corneal tissue. When the shape of the cornea is satisfactory, the surgeon places the flap back into place. The flap recovers on its own with time.
Since LASIK is an outpatient surgical procedure, you will not experience any major discomfort after surgery. The best way to avoid pain is to go to sleep for the first 4 hours post-surgery by taking the relaxing medications given by your doctor.
Summing Up
LASIK eye surgery is one of the safest elective medical procedures. It provides long-lasting solutions to various vision problems. Thus, it alters the quality of life for its patients positively. If you’re looking for a LASIK clinic in Nashville, TN, contact Vision for Life. Here, the award-winning LASIK surgeon provides tailored LASIK solutions to patients, ensuring they achieve the highest possible outcome. Book a free consultation today at Vision for Life.
